Nagaland chief minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, who also holds the charge of Food and Civil Supplies, has said police have registered three cases in connection with the fuel adulteration case. He informed the house that five people were arrested in the third case but investigation could not be completed so far since the main accused was absconding.
In his reply to the starred question posed by Mmhonlumo Kikon, MLA, the chief minister said 13 persons were arrested in the first case and released on bail and that six persons were charge-sheeted after investigation.
In the second case, the chief minister said 15 persons were arrested and after investigation while eight persons were charge-sheeted.
Replying to a supplementary question by Kikon, regarding constitution of SIT on fuel adulteration case and the officials involved, the former chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, who was earlier in charge of F&CS department, said seven member SIT team headed by IG, Wabang Jamir, was constituted to probe the case.
Zeliang further informed the house that the team had almost completed the investigation and the case was now pending in the judicial court.
The government found its self in quite a situation when advisor Finance, T.R. Zeliang rose up to reply to the supplementary question instead of the chief minister. It would have put speculations to rest had the chief minister stood up and clarified the reply would be given by the T.R. Zeliang during whose tenure, as F&CS department’s minister in-charge, the case came up.